Extruding machine



March 30, 1937. E. N. MEAK!N 2,075,450

EXTRUDING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1935 E. I ll INVENTOR. ewe/m m MEAL/INggma,

j H/S ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 30, 1937' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 20Claims.

My invention relates to a mill and more particularly to an extrudingmachine adapted to compress and force moldable materials through a dieplate and to sever the extruded material 5 into sections to producepellets of uniform size.

The principal object of my invention is to provide improved means forforming pellets from moldable materials.

Other objects of my invention are: To provide 10 a pellet mill whereinmaterials may be compressed and rolled through a perforated die plateand thereafter cut off to form pellets; to provide such a structurewherein the main load bearings are positioned above and isolated fromthe vicinity of 15 the material to be worked upon; to provide, in adevice of the class described, improved means for handling thruststresses; to provide, in such a mill, means for relieving the main framefrom thrust stresses; to provide, in an extruding machine of the classdescribed, for the lubrication of moving parts at a point remote fromthe extruding and feeding mechanism; to provide, in such a mill,improved means for facilitating inspection, removal and replacement ofthe compressor rolls; to provide, in such a mill, improved means forsupporting the central portion of the die plate; to provide, in a deviceof the class described, means whereby the main parts of the drivingmechanism may be immersed in a bath 3 of lubricant; to provide anextruding machine in which parts requiring change may be speedily andeasily removed and replaced; to provide an extruding machine in whichfailure of parts is greatly reduced, and to provide an extruding ma- 0chine of simple construction.

The invention possesses numerous additional objects and advantages, someof which, together with the foregoing, will become apparent upon perusalof the following description of my invention. It is to be understood,however, that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of the species ofmy invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof within thescope of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a view in vertical section of an extruding machineincorporating my invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the split connector for theupper and lower sleeve sections, the same being taken in the planeindicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Considered broadly, the structure of my invention comprises asubstantially cylindrical frame or housing having an enclosed chamberformed in the upper portion thereof and a perforated die plate removablysecured in the lower portion thereof. A stationary tubular column isprovided, one end of which passes through an aperture in the end wall ofthe chamber, and its other end snugly fits within a centrally positionedaperture in the die plate. A transversely divided 5 sleeve is providedfor disposal about said tubular column and its upper section passesthrough the chamber aperture and its lower section terminates at a pointadjacent the upper face of the die plate; Compression means, disposed onthe lower section of the sleeve adjacent the face of the die, isprovided for compressing and forcing material deposited on the face ofthe die through the perforations thereof. Means is further provided inthe chamber for rotating the upper section of the sleeve and means isfurnished for removably connecting the two sections of the sleevetogether, whereby the rotating means will drive, through the sleevesections, the material compressing means relative to the face of the dieplate. Means is also provided whereby the sleeve sections may be movedinto overlapping relationship, thereby permitting movement of thecompression means away from the face of the die plate. Knives aredisposed below the die plate to sever the strings of extruded materialinto pellets of suitable size, and means is provided, connected withinthe chamber with the sleeve rotating means, for actuating said knives.Means is still further provided for making the chamber fluid tight inorder that the mechanism within the chamber may be submerged in a bathof lubricant. I

In greater detail and with reference to the preferred embodimentillustrated in the drawing, the structure of my invention comprises ahousing or frame preferably formed with a lower section, generallyindicated by the numeral 3, and an upper section, generally indicated bythe numeral 4.

The lower housing section is provided with a substantially cylindricalside wall 6 having a base flange 1 at its lower end, by means of whichthe housing may be secured to a floor or other supporting structure, anda top flange 8 at its upper end. In order to permit access to theworking parts within such lower section, portions of the side wall 6 areremoved to provide a plurality of relatively large apertures 9.

The upper housing section is formed with a cylindrical side wall I I,having cut-away portions to provide access apertures l2, and with amarginal flange B, which joins the flange 8 at the planar surface It,and is secured thereto by suitable means such as bolts, not shown. Theupper 55 portion of the side wall II is slightly increased diametricallyat the point of juncture thereof with a horizontally disposed wall l8which 'provides. in conjunction with a coverplate II, secured to theupper end of the side wall, an enclosed chamber l8. The wall I8 isprovided with a boss l8 having a central aperture 2i therein joining theinterior of the chamber I8 and the interior of the upper section of thehousing. A

10 liquid level indicator 28 is provided for the chamber, by means ofwhich the level of lubricant therein may be gauged.

Flange 8 is provided with a depending tubular extension 22 terminatingin an outwardly directed flange 23 formed with a central aperture havinga bore 24 in which is seated the periphery of an annular die plate 28having a central aperture 21 therein. Both the flange 8 and the lowerportion of the upper housing section 4,

adjacent the flange I3 thereof, are provided with large centralapertures whose sides slope downwardly and inwardly to provide, inconjunction with the upper face 28 of the die plate, a substantiallyconcave bowl 29. The die plate is provided with a plurality ofvertically disposed apertures 30 and is removably secured in the bore 24by means of a split ring 3i having a flange 32, which engages the uppersurface of the flange 23 of the bowl, and a flange 33 which engages thelower face 34 of the die plate. The ends of each section of the ring areprovided with lugs 38 having apertures therethrough adapted to receivebolts 31 by means of which the sections of the ring may be securedtogether" to clamp the die plate to the housing.

Means are provided for compressing and forcing material deposited on theupper surface of the die plate through apertures 38. Disposed axially ofthe die plate is a rotatable sleeve structure comprising an uppertubular portion 38, which is journaled in the aperture 2| of the walliii of the chamber, and a lower tubular section 38. The upper section 38is provided with a flange 4| which is secured in the hub 42 of a spurgear 43 disposed within the chamber. Means for rotating this gear areprovided in a pinion 44, which meshes therewith; the pinion beingmounted on a shaft 46 projecting outwardly from the chamber andconnected for rotation with a motor 41 secured to the outer surface ofthe chamber, through a suitable drive comprising a motor pulley 48, ashaft pulley 49 and a plurality of V belts 5| which engage peripheralgrooves formed in the faces of the pulleys.

The lower section 39 of the sleeve structure is provided withdiametrically opposed arms comprising radially disposed convergent webs52 which are joined together at their outer ends by a verticallydisposed wall 53. Each of the arms is provided with 2. depending bracket54, the upper end of which is secured by suitable means such as screws,not illustrated, to the wall 53, and the lower end of which is providedwith an aperture 56 which carries the outer end of a horizontallydisposed shaft 51 Whose inner end is disposed in an aperture 58 formedin the sleeve section 39. Each of the shafts 5'! is provided with a pairof bearings 59 which support a roller SI for rotation thereon. Suitableremovable closures 52 are provided for sealing the bearings within theroller and to provide an enclosure for lubricant for the bearings.

Both the lower end of the sleeve section 38 and the upper end of thesection 39 are provided, as is shown in Figure 2, with longitudinallydisposed peripheral grooves 88 which are adapted to receive and hold akey 84 contacting corresponding grooves 86 formed in the sections 61 ofa split connector generally indicated by the numeral 68 of Figure 1. Theconnector sections are each provided with lugs 69 adapted to be securedtogether by means of bolts II. It will be noted that since the keys 64are secured in the grooves 83, those grooves 86 remote from the verticalcenterline as passed through Figure 2 are provided with side walls 12disposed in parallel relationship with the centerline so that thesections of the connector may be readily withdrawn from the sleevesections in a radial direction. It will thus be seen that the rollers 8|will be moved over the surface of the die plate and about the verticalaxis of the sleeve structure, when the motor 41 is energized, so thatmaterial deposited on the face of the die plate will be compressedbetween the converging surfaces of the die plate and rollers to effectextrusion thereof through the apertures 30.

Means are provided for feeding material to be extruded onto the face ofthe die plate. Mounted on a pair of rails 13, secured to the housing Il, is a trough-shaped tank 14 provided with end walls 16, each formedwith an apertured hub 'I'I which serves as a journal for alongitudinally extending shaft 18. This shaft is provided with radiallyextending arms 19, to the outer ends of which are attached paddle blades8|. An extended portion 82 of the shaft is secured in the hub of asprocket 83 disposed adjacent the outer surface of the end wall 16. Theend wall is provided with an aperture 84 connected by means of a chute86 with the bowl 29.

Secured for rotation with the hub 42 of the gear 43, within the chamberI8, is a bevel gear 8'! whose teeth mesh with those of a pinion 88carried on a short shaft 89 which is journaled in a bearing bracket 98secured in an opening 9| of the chamber side wall. The end of the shaft89 projects beyond the outer end of the bracket and carries a sprocket92 which is connected for rotation with the sprocket 83 by means of achain 93.

It will thus be seen that when the motor is energized to rotate the gear43, and move the rolls 8|, the shaft 82 will also be rotated therebycausing movement of the paddle blades 8| which will cause any materialcontained in the tank 14 not only to be thoroughly mixed but also toflow therefrom through the aperture 84 and via the chute 86 into thebowl 29 of the mill where it may be acted upon by the moving rollers 8|.

In some instances it is desirable that the materials be heated tofacilitate mixing and enhance consolidation during extrusion. For thispurpose I provide a jacket 94 about a portion of the wall of the tankthrough which steam, or other heated fluid, may be circulated formaintaining the contents of the tank at the desired temperature.

It is to be observed that as the material is compressed between thefaces of the die plate and rollers, tremendous stresses will be set upin. the parts, particularly in the die plate which, being perforated, isnot capable of withstanding the loads which may be borne by the othersolid parts of the mechanism. To overcome this I have provided means forsupporting the die plate from the center so as to more evenly distributethe load over the surface thereof.

Disposed axially of the aperture 21 in the die plate is a tubular shaftor column 96, the upper end of which extends into the chamber l8 throughthe aperture 2I thereof and the lower end of which terminates a distancebelow the lower surface of the die plate. A die block 91 is providedbetween the periphery of the column and that of the die plate apertureand a nut 98. provided at its upper end with a peripheral groove 99, isthreaded on the column immediately adjacent the die block. A split-ringIIII is disposed in the groove 99 and is of a diameter suflicientlylarger than that of the aperture 21 as to overlie the portions of thedie plate immediately surrounding the aperture: The ring is providedwith an annular bead I02, which projects upwardly into the aperture 21contacting the surface thereof and the lower surface of the die block91, and this head, as clearly shown in Figure 1, serves to seat thesplit-ring in the groove 99 and the die plate aperture.

Means are provided for locking the nut 98 to the column to preventrelative rotation therebetween once the position of the nut has beendetermined. The body of the nut, adjacent its lower end, is providedwith a transverse slot I03 and a capscrew I84 which is positionedadjacent the edge of the nut is provided for closing the slot andthereby causing a clamping action of the nut on the threads of thecolumn so that relative movement therebetween may not readily occur.

The upper end of the column is provided with a nut I88 secured theretoby means of screw threads I81, and a thrust bearing comprising an upperplate I08, a lower plate I89, which is provided with a conically orspherically shaped bottom face I I I seating on a complementary shapedwasher H2, and a roller assembly II3, is disposed between the lower faceof the nut and the upper surface of the hub 42 of the drive gear 43. Itwill thus be seen that forces exerted on the die plate, due to thecompression of the material to be extruded between the periphery of therollers and the upper surface of the die plate, will be transmittedthrough the column and through the thrust bearing to the upper end ofthe sleeve structure.

Means are provided, actuated by the drive mechanism positioned in thechamber I8, for cutting off the extruded strings of material as theyemerge from the die apertures 38 so as to divide the strings intosections or pellets. Mounted axially of the column is a shaft II4provided at its lower end, which extends beyond the lower end of thecolumn, with a portion II6 of reduced diameter upon which is tightlysecured, by means of a nut IN, the hub H8 of a spider provided with apair of diametrically opposed arms I I8. These arms, at their outerends, are each provided with an elongated aperture I2I which receivesthe shouldered end I22 of a vertically disposed ferrule I23 having abore I24 extending axially therethrough and which receives a stud I26.Both ends of the stud are threaded, the upper end to receive a nut I21and the lowerend to receive a similar nut I28 which, in conjunction witha washer I29, clamps the ferrule to the arm H9. The upper extremity ofthe stud is transversely slotted to receive a knife blade I3I disposedso that its cutting edge I32 rests on, or closely adjacent, the lowersurface of the die plate, and the body of the knife is positionedpreferably at an angle thereto. It will be observed that the nuts I21and I28 be manipulated, to raise and lower the stud 26, to provide notonly means for clamping the ferrule to the arms II9 but also forregulating the position of the cutting edge of the knife with respect tothe surface of the die plate.

The upper end of shaft H4 is extended beyond the nut I06 and is fittedwith a key I33 which engages a keyway formed in a hub I34 which isjournaled in a bushing I38 mounted in an apertured boss I3I formed inthe cover plate ll of the chamber. The hub I34 is provided with a pairof radially and downwardly extending arms I38 connected together, attheir lower ends, by an annular ring flange I39 which is secured to thebevel gear 8'! by bolts I4I which connect the flange, the bevel gear andthe hub of the drive gear 43 together.

It will be seen, therefore, that since the shaft I I4 is connected forrotation with the drive gear, through the arms I38, the knives I3I willbe caused to move over the lower face of the die plate when the mill isin motion thereby passing transversely across the lower ends of theapertures 30 and separating the extruded strings of material intopellets.

In extruding machines of the type illustrated it is necessary thatprovision be made whereby the rollers and die plate may be readilyreached for inspection, repair and replacement. I, therefore, providemeans for moving the rollers from their operative positions in the bowlto a position elevated therefrom where both the rollers and the surfaceof the die plate are exposed to view. This is accomplished by providingthe upper end of the lower sleeve section 39 with an enlarged bore I42which is sufficiently greater in diameter than that of the lower portionof the section 38 as to telescope thereover when the clamp collar Theremoval and replacement of the die plate may be accomplished just asreadily as that of the rollers. The procedure followed is to firstremove the knife assembly from the shaft II4, then the split-rings 3|and I OI, whereupon the die plate may be moved downwardly, the aperture21 thereof passing freely over the nut 98, and withdrawn from the lowersection of the housing through the apertures 9.

Means are provided for preventing contamination of the material, to beextruded, by lubricants which might leak, or be thrown, from the movingparts. This is accomplished by providing the boss I9, at the lower facethereof adjacent the point of emergence of the sleeve 38, the lower endof the sleeve 39, and the lower end of the column 98, with oil seals I44of the conventional type consisting of a ring I45 of angular crosssection which is urged into contact with the parts to be sealed by meansof an annular coiled spring I 47. This type of seal is well known in theart and requires no other identification than that given.

The rollers 5|, since they contain lubricant and are located in intimaterelationship with the material under treatment, are also provided withoil seals I48 at each end thereof where the shaft 51 emerges.

It will be seen, therefore, that the seals, especially those of thesleeve 38 and the sleeve 39, prevent the passage of oil from thepartially filled (ill chamber it from passing downwardly, either betweenthe periphery of the upper portion of the sleeve and the bore of theboss l9, or between the sleeve and the column 96, and entering the bowl.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be seen that Ihave provided a novel con struction for extruding machines, of thegeneral character illustrated, by moving the thrust bearing, whichconstitutes one of the most vital parts of the machine structure, from aposition adjacent the die plate, or from a position below or adjacentthe path of flow of the material through the machine, to a positionremote therefrom where it may not be clogged and subsequently damaged byfinely comminuted material finding its way thereinto, and where it isimmersed in a bath of lubricant which insures that it is alwaysoperating at maximum efliciency. Furthermore, by reason of suchplacement, the thrust bearing may be of large dimensions in order tocare for the tremendous stresses set up'during extrusion, all withoutinterfering with the accessibility or design of the extruding mechanism.

It is to be further observed that my structure is such that when therollers are elevated above the face of the die plate for inspection,repair or replacement, no axial movement of the sleeve 38 takes place.Thus the oil seals I44 are not disturbed so as to permit leakage of thelubricant from the chamber and upon the material to be extruded, nor arethe parts within the chamber and in association with such sleevesubjected to displacement so as to cause breakage or undue tie-up of themachine for repair or adjustment.

Another distinct feature of my construction is that no stresses of anykind, attendant upon the extrusion of material by the rollers throughthe die plate, are transmitted by the frame or housing of the machine;the only stressed parts of the device, other than the rollers and dieplate, being the column 96 which is stressed tensionally when themachine is in operation, and the sleeve structure which is subjected tocompressive stresses.

I claim: I

1. In apparatus of the class described, a perforated die plate, a columnassociated with said die plate, a rotatable sleeve disposed adjacentsaid column and having an upper and a lower portion, said lower portionbeing movable into overlapping relationship with respect to said upperportion, a roller depending from the lower portion of said sleeve andadjacent one face of the die plate for compressing and forcing materialthrough said perforations, and means for rotating said sleeve and rollerabout the column axis.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a perforated die plate, a columnassociated with said die plate, a rotatable sleeve surrounding saidcolumn and having an upper and a lower portion, said lower portion beingprovided with an enlarged annular end whereby the same may be moved intotelescopic relation with said upper portion, a roller depending from thelower portion of said sleeve and adjacent one face of the die plate forcompressing and forcing material through said perforations, and meansfor rotating said sleeve and roller about the column axis.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a perforated die plate, a columnassociated with said die plate, a sleeve disposed adjacent said columnand havingan upper and a lower portion, removable means securing saidportions together, a roller depending from the lower portion of saidsleeve and adjacent one face of the die plate for compressing andforcing material through the perforations therein, means dispmed on saidlower portion of the sleeve whereby said portion and said roller may bemoved away from the face of said die plate, and means for rotating saidroller about the column axis.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a perforated die plate, a shaftsecured to said die plate, an articulated sleeve disposed about saidshaft, means mounted on said sleeve for movement thereabout adjacent asurface of said die plate for compressing and forcing material throughthe perforations thereof, means for rotating said sleeve, and meansdisposed adjacent one end of said shaft and sleeve for preventingrelative axial movement therebetween.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a perforated die plate, a shaftsecured to said die plate, a sleeve having a plurality of relativelymovable sections disposed about said shaft, means mounted on one of saidsections for movement thereabout adjacent a surface of said die platefor compressing and' forcing material through the perforations thereof,means for rotating one of said sections, and means for securing saidsections together for preventing relative movement therebetween.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a perforated die plate, a shaftsecured to said die plate, a sleeve having a plurality of relativelymovable spaced sections disposedabout said shaft, one of said sectionsbeing provided with an enlarged central bore for receiving an end of anadjoining section whereby said sections may be moved from spacedrelationship into overlapping relationship, means mounted on one of saidsections for movement about the axis thereof adjacent a surface of saiddie plate for compressing and forcing material through the perforationsthereof, means for rotating one of said sections, means disposed betweenanother of said sections and said shaft for preventing relative axialmovement therebetween, and means for securing said sections together inspaced relationship.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a perforated die plate, a shaftsecured to said die plate, a sleeve having a plurality of relativelymovable sections disposed about said shaft with ends thereof in adjacentrelationship, means mounted on one of said sections for movementthereabout adjacent a surface of said die plate for compressing andforcing material through the perforations thereof, means for rotatingone of said sections, means for securing said sections together forunitary rotation, said means comprising a collar removably engaging theadjacent ends of said sleeves, and means disposed between one of saidsections and said shaft for preventing relative movement therebetween.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a tubular column, a perforateddie plate having an aperture through which said column passes, a sleevedisposed about said column, means supported by said sleeve and adjacentone face of said die plate for compressing and forcing material throughthe perforations therein, a shaft disposed in said column, a knifemounted on said shaft and adjacent the other face of the die plate forsevering the material into pellets as it is extruded through saidperforations, means for rotating said shaft, and means for rotating saidsleeve and material compressing means about the shaft axis.

it In apparatus of the class described, a stationary tubular column, aperforated die plate having an aperture through which said columnpasses, means removably mounted on said column for supporting said dieplate at the inner edge thereof, a sleeve disposed about said column, a

roller supported by said sleeve and adjacent one face of said die platefor compressing an d forcing material through the perforations therein,a shaft disposed in said column, a knife mounted on said shaft andadjacent the other face of the die plate for severing the material intopellets as it is extruded through said perforations, means for-rotatingsaid shaft, and means for rotating said sleeve and roller about theshaft axis.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a tubular column, a perforateddie plate having an aperture through which said column passes, a sleevedisposed about said column, a roller supported by said sleeve andadjacent one face of said die plate for compressing and forcing materialthrough the perforations therein, a shaft disposed in said column, aknife mounted on said shaft and adjacent the other face of the die platefor severing the material into pellets as it is extruded through saidperforations, and means for of said shaft and adjacent one face of thedie plate for severing the material into pellets as it is extrudedthrough said perforations, means connected to the other end of saidshaft for rotating said shaft, and means for rotating said sleeve androller about the shaft axis.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a housing, a chamber in saidhousing having an aperture opening into said housing, a perforated dieplate mounted in said housing, a column secured to said die plate andextending through said aperture, an articulated sleeve disposed aboutsaid column and extending through said chamber aperture, means forpreventing the leakage of fluid between said column and the periphery ofsaid chamber aperture, means mounted on said sleeve and adjacent oneface of said die plate for compressing and forcing material through theperforations therein, means for rotating said sleeve, and means disposedwithin said chamber and adjacent the ends of said column and sleeve fortransmitting thrust stresses therebetween.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a substantially tubular housinghaving end walls spaced to. provide an enclosed fluid receiving chamber,one of said end walls being provided with an aperture opening into saidhousing, a perforated die plate mounted in said housing and having anaperture therethrough disposed in alinement with the aperture of saidchamber end wall, a column passing through each of said apertures andsecured at one end thereof to said die plate, a sleeve disposed aboutsaid column and extending through said end wall aperture in contact withthe periphery thereof, means disposed adjacent said aperture and saidend wall for preventing escape of fluid from said chamber through saidaperture, means mounted on said sleeve for movement thereabout adjacenta surface of said die plate for compressing and forcing material throughthe perforations of said die plate, means disposed within said chamberfor rotating said sleeve. and a thrust bearing disposed between the endsof said sleeve and said column, in said chamber, for preventing relativeaxial movement therebetween.

14. In apparatus of the class described, a substantially tubular housinghaving end walls spaced to provide an enclosed fluid receiving chamber,one of said end walls being provided with an aperture opening into saidhousing, a perforated die plate mounted in said housing and having anaperture therethrough disposed in alinement with the aperture of saidchamber end wall, a column passing through .each of said apertures andsecured at one end thereof to said die plate, a sleeve having an uppersection disposed about said column and passing through said end wallaperture in contact with the periphery thereof and an alined relativelymovable lower section spaced therefrom and provided with an enlargedcentral bore for receiving the end of said upper section whereby saidsections may be moved into overlapping rela- =tionship, a rollerjournaled on said lower section and movable over the surface of said dieplate for compressing and forcing material through the perforationsthereof, means for rotating one of said sleeve sections, means forsecuring said sections together to prevent relative-movementtherebetween, and a thrust bearing disposed in said chamber andinterposed between the ends of said column and the upper section of saidsleeve for preventing relative axial movement therebetween.

15. In apparatus of the class described, asubstantially cylindricalhousing having a pair of spaced end walls providing an enclosed chamber,one of said end walls being provided with an aperture opening into saidhousing, a. perforated die plate mounted in said housing and having anopening therein disposed in alinement with said aperture, a tubularcolumn passing through said aperture and said opening and secured at oneend to said die plate, a sleeve disposed about said tubular column andhaving an upper portion extending through said aperture in contact withthe periphery thereof and a lower portion in alinement with and spacedfrom said upper portion, said lower portion having an enlarged centralbore for receiving the adjacent end of said upper portion whereby saidportions may be moved from spaced relationship into overlappingrelationship, a roller journaled on said lower portion of said sleeveand disposed for movement over a surface of said die plate forcompressing and forcing material through the perforations of said dieplate, means for connecting the portions of said sleeve together toprevent relative movement therebetween, means disposed in said chamberand interposed between the ends of said tubular shaft and said sleevefor preventing relative axial movement therebetween, a gear disposed insaid chamber and secured to said sleeve, means for rotating said gear, ashaft extending axially through said tubular shaft, means for connectingsaid shaft for rotation, at one end thereof, with said gear, a pluralityof knives disposed for movement over the lower face of said die platefor cutting material forced through the perforations thereof intopellets, and means for securing said knives to said rod.

16. In apparatus of the class described, a perforated die plate, astationary column supporting said die plate at the central portionthereoi, an articulated sleeve positioned immediate- 1y adjacent saidcolumn, compression means supported by said sleeve and a j cent one faceof said die plate for compressing and forcing ma s terial through saidperforations, and means for moving said compression means about thecolumn axis.

17. In apparatus of the class described, a

perforated die plate, a stationary column con- 10 nected to andsupporting said die plate at the central portion thereof, an articulatedsleeve positioned adjacent said column, a roller disposed on said sleeveand adjacent one face of said die plate for compressing and forcingmate- 15 rial through said perforations, and means for moving saidsleeve and roller about the face of the die.

18. In apparatus of the class described, a perforated die plate, acolumn connected to said die 20 plate adjacent theaxis thereof, anarticulated sleeve positioned adjacent said column, compression meanssupported by said sleeve adjacent one face oi said die plate forcompressing and forcing material through said perforations,

and means for moving said compression means about the face of said die.

19. In apparatus of the class described, a' per forated die plate, afixed column connected to the central portion of said die plate, atransversely divided sleeve positioned immediately adjacent said column,a roller disposed on said sleeve and adjacent one face of said die platefor compressing and forcing material through said perforations, andmeans for moving said sleeve and roller about the column axis.

20. In apparatus of the class described, a perforated die plate havingan axially disposed

